Hood extension for range and the like

ABSTRACT

The present invention proposes a flexible, collapsible range hood extension which can easily be installed and removed, as needed, from an existing hood.

[0001] This application claims priority based on provisional application60/399,276 filed Jul. 30, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Fi ld of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to venting means in general and moreparticularly to hoods for venting cooking fumes and specificallyextensions for hoods.

[0004] 2. Background of the invention

[0005] Greasy fumes from cooking have been the bane of many housewivesfor years. In olden times, it was easy to leave doors and windows opento let air circulate but nowadays, with increasing heating costs, cityliving, latex based wall paints and fine delicate interior decorating,getting rid of greasy fumes before they can settle is of the utmostimportance.

[0006] Fans became popular in post WWII years, soon followed by hoods.In the intervening years, various wall protectors, grease guards, andhoods without fans were developed. These accessories were meant todeflect the splattering of grease droplets as well as directing fumes,sometimes toward a ceiling or wall vent or electric fan. Thesedeflectors were generally collapsible for easy storage when not in use.With the advent of the standard range hoods, those types of accessoriesbecame obsolete.

[0007] However, standard range hoods do not overhang over the entirerange top surface but rather approximately half of the top area of arange. This is for a practical reason since the head of an adult usuallyreaches that height or pretty much so and it would become anencumberance, not to say an injury hazard, if hoods were to reach toofar forward.

[0008] There are some range hoods which can be pulled forward much likeone pulls out on a drawer in order to have the hood overhang over muchof the range surface but they are made of hard metal with sharp cornersonto which a user can easily come into contact and potentially getinjured.

[0009] When cooking specially steamy or smoke producing foods, the fancan't circulate air fast enough and some fumes escape the hood andcirculate throughout the rest of the house.

[0010] There is hence a need for a device which improves the fumecollecting capabilities of standard range hoods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] In order to more appropriately collect fume, the presentinvention proposes a flexible, collapsible range hood extension whichcan easily be installed and removed, as needed, from an existing hood.

[0012] It is therefore a first object of this invention to provide for ahood extension to improve a range hood's ability to collect fume whilebeing releasably attached from it.

[0013] It is a second object of this invention to provide for a a hoodextension which can be installed in seconds and removed just as fast.

[0014] It is a third object of this invention to provide for a hoodextension which can be collapsed or folded for easy and unobtrusivestorage, usually in the narrow space between a range and kitchencabinetry or range and refrigerator.

[0015] It is a fourth object of this invention to provide for a hoodextension which can be easily cleaned of grease, dirt and grime andwhich is generally unaffected by such grease, dirt and grime as well asheat.

[0016] It is a fifth object of this invention to provide for a hoodextension which has rounded corners and a generally soft structure toavoid potential injury for the user as well as not hindering a usersview of the range top.

[0017] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of thisinvention will become more readily apparent from the following detaileddescription of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown anddescribed, by way of examples. As will be realized, the invention iscapable of other and different embodiments, and its several details arecapable of modifications in various obvious respects, all withoutdeparting from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptionare to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018]FIG. 1 Is a perspective elevation showing a hood extensionfloating above a range hood with dotted lines showing how it connects tothe hood.

[0019]FIG. 2 Is a side elevation of the hood extension installed.

[0020]FIG. 3a Is a front underside elevation of the hood extensionshowing the magnetic strip.

[0021]FIG. 3b Is a side elevation of the hood extension folded, instorage configuration.

[0022]FIG. 4a Is a side elevation of an alternate embodiment with anarticulation in the closed configuration.

[0023]FIG. 4b Is a side elevation of an alternate embodiment with anarticulation in the opened configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] A hood extension (10) to fit over an existing range hood (22) hasa top planar surface (12) and a peripheral flap (14) which extends fromthe perimeter of the planar surface (12) on at least one side butpreferably the front and two lateral sides of the planar surface (12)and in a generally perpendicular fashion therefrom when in use. Theplanar surface (12) preferably has rounded corners (16) to reduce therisk of injury, although it may not be necessary since many paddingsolutions could be employed to serve a similar purpose without departingfrom the scope of the present invention. The peripheral flap (14) can beof a soft, pliable, curtain like material or be rigid, in which case itwould be split at the corners between the front and the two lateralsides to allow for folding.

[0025] A window (18), made out of clear material allows a user (30) aclear view of the range. Of course, if the hood extension is made out ofa transparent material such a window (18) would be unnecessary. On theunderside of the top planar surface (12) is a strip of magnetizedmaterial (20), as seen in FIG. 3a which is one means by which the hoodextension (10) can be releasably attached to a range hood (22). At thispoint in time, magnets appear to be the preferred means for releasableattachment, as soft adhesives or hook and pile type attachments wouldhave drawbacks as would an elastic band surrounding the hood or twomechanical connectors clipping the lateral sides of the existing rangehood (22). The hook and pile would require prior installation of anadhesive strip having the hook or pile in a permanent fashion on theexisting range hood (22) for mating with its complementary strip on thehood extension (10) and the elastic band or the connectors would besubject to hanging, dangling and breaking.

[0026] In order to use the hood extension (10), the user (30) simplypicks it up, positions it over the existing range hood (22), at whichpoint the peripheral flap (14) unfolds then, insuring proper alignmentbetween the hood extension (10) and the magnetized material (20), letsit drop and the magnetized material (20) provides secure attachment tothe existing range hood (22). Fumes (24) can now be collected by a fan(26). Because of the transparent window (18) a clear line of sight (28)can be had by the user (30).

[0027] More specifically, FIG. 4a discloses a side elevation of analternate embodiment of the hood extension (10) with an articulation(32) in the closed configuration as in normal operating mode. Because ofthe various activities surrounding a range and also, depending upon theheight of the user (30), the hood extension can, at times be struck bythe user (30), especially in situations of emergency when something isburning of overflowing and in the heat of the moment, the user (30)could bump the hood extension (10). In such extreme situations, The hoodextension can split at a junction point (34) separating the articulation(32) section from the rest of the hood extension (10) as a way ofabsorbing the shock of the interaction between the hood extension (10)and the user (30) without being disengaged from the range hood (22) andwithout falling off. In FIG. 4b, the articulation (32) is now in an openconfiguration and a retainer (36) limits the displacement of thearticulation. The retainer (36) could either be a normally folded pieceof material or, it could be a biasing means to automatically bring thearticulation (32) back in the closed configuration. Either way, theretainer (36) can be as wide as the hood extension (10) or very narrowor there can be more that one such retainer (36).

1. A hood extension to help venting cooking fumes and adapted to fitover an existing range hood comprising: a top planar surface, aperipheral flap extending from the perimeter of said top planar surface;retainer means to retain said hood extension over said existing rangehood.
 2. A hood extension as in claim 1 further comprising: atransparent window cut into said top planar surface.
 3. A hood extensionas in claim 1 further comprising: a peripheral flap having a front andtwo lateral sides made out of a soft pliable material.
 4. A hoodextension as in claim 1 further comprising: a peripheral flap made outof a rigid material having a front and two lateral sides and split atthe corners between said front and said lateral sides to allow forfolding.
 5. A hood extension as in claim 1 further comprising: roundedcorners on said top planar surface.
 6. A hood extension as in claim 1further comprising: a strip of magnetized material as releasableattachment means onto said existing range hood.
 7. A hood extension tohelp venting cooking fumes and adapted to fit over an existing rangehood comprising: a top planar surface, a peripheral flap extending fromthe perimeter of said top planar surface; retainer means to retain saidhood extension over said existing range hood; an articulation at ajunction point; a retainer means for said articulation.